On the first day of free agency, the Detroit Red Wings are valuing familiarity over flash. Most notably, they decided to bring back defenseman Kyle Quincey on a two-year deal worth $8.5 million (terms via TSN’s Bob McKenzie).
The 28-year-old seems to be a fixture in Detroit, even if it’s sometimes difficult to gauge how enthusiastic that connection might be. He began his career playing a handful of games with Detroit between 2005-06 and 2007-08 before really catching on with the Los Angeles Kings and Colorado Avalanche. He returned to “Hockeytown” in 2011-12 and appears primed to stick around a bit longer.
This deal is quite similar to the last one he signed with the Red Wings. Quincey signed for two-years, $7.55 million last time around.
Quincey is the third highest-paid Red Wings defenseman and probably earns that description. He’s not the type who tends to put up spectacular numbers, at least with his possession numbers dipping a bit recently.
He’s a player with decent (if fading) offensive potential and a decent amount of snarl. In other words, not the kind of re-signing that will get many people excited, but likely a pretty wise move nonetheless.